2011 NFL Predictions: AFC North Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns

Last Season: 5 – 11

2011 NFL Draft: DT Phil Taylor (Baylor, Rd. 1/Pick 21), DE Jaball Sheard (Pittsburgh, Rd. 2/Pick 5), WR Greg Little (North Carolina, Rd. 2/Pick 27), TE Jordan Cameron (USC, Rd. 4/Pick 5), FB Owen Marecic (Stanford, Rd. 4/Pick 27), CB Buster Skrine (Chattanooga, Rd. 5/Pick 6), T Jason Pinkston (Pittsburgh, Rd. 5/Pick 19), S Eric Hagg (Nebraska, Rd. 7/Pick 45)

Key Additions: S Usama Young

Key Losses: QB Jake Delhomme, WR Chansi Stuckey

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Colt McCoy  — 1,576 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Colt McCoy — 6

• Rushing yards — Peyton Hillis — 1,177 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Peyton Hillis — 11

• Receiving yards — Benjamin Watson — 763 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Benjamin Watson/Brain Robiskie — 3

• Tackles — T.J. Ward — 123

• Sacks — Marcus Benard — 8

• Interceptions — Joe Haden — 6

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: Bengals

Week 2: @ Colts

Week 3: Dolphins

Week 4: Titans

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: @ Raiders

Week 7: Seahawks

Week 8: @ 49ers

Week 9: @ Texans

Week 10: Rams

Week 11: Jaguars

Week 12: @ Bengals

Week 13: Ravens

Week 14: @ Steelers

Week 15: @ Cardinals

Week 16: @ Ravens

Week 17: Steelers

Analysis: The Browns’ problem last year was they didn’t score enough points. They only put up more than 20 points four times last year, all in victories. They tried three different quarterbacks and finally decided on 2010 rookie QB Colt McCoy. He will start this year, but he only threw six touchdowns last year. He has the potential, and drive, to push a team to a couple of victories, however. He will need help, and the receiving core is starting to build back up. Rookie WR Greg Little should contribute early and WR Mohamed Massaquoi and TE Benjamin Watson should have decent years. The real help will come from the backfield. Rookie FB Owne Marecic was a solid fourth round pick and RB Peyton Hillis will look to capture the magic of last year. Hopefully, however, he doesn’t fall prey to the Madden curse, as he is gracing the cover of NFL Madden ’12. The defense is going to benefit from rookies DE Jabaal Sheard and DT Phil Taylor as well as free agent pick-up S Usama Young. On paper, the Browns seem to have the right pieces for a decent season, but they lack that something special other teams have. The playmaker who will come up big in a 2-minute drive to win the game. Plus, just like the Bengals, they play in the same division as two of the best AFC teams.

2011 Season Prediction: 4 – 12, Third in the AFC North

Agree with the things I said? Disagree? Let me and everyone else know! Comment below and keep following.